Belgian PM says Kremlin threatened him personally over frozen assets for Ukraine. Moscow’s pressure is clearly paying off

2025-12-17 21:47 4 min

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said that the Kremlin had personally threatened him, according to The Washington Post. The report comes amid discussions in the EU about the possible use of approximately €210 billion in frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Belgium holds the largest share of these funds, making it a key country in the process.

European leaders this week are making final efforts to agree on a mechanism for using Russian assets, despite strong resistance from Moscow. The final decision is expected to be made on 18 December at the European Council summit, according to Reuters.

De Wever himself opposes the European Commission’s plan. In an interview with La Libre, he called Ukraine's victory in Russia's war a “fairy tale” and a “complete illusion.”

According to him, it would be undesirable for Moscow to lose, as this could allegedly lead to instability in a nuclear-armed state. He also described the potential use of Russian assets as “theft,” effectively echoing Kremlin narratives.

Blackmail, Medvedev’s threats, and the destabilization of Europe

Currently, Moscow is conducting a multi-level pressure campaign aimed at derailing the process, threatening decades of lawsuits and an “unspecified response” if the assets are confiscated.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has even claimed that Belgium could “disappear” if Russia were to test the nuclear-powered underwater drone Poseidon.

Belgium’s PM calls Ukrainian victory a “fairy tale” — and wants EU taxpayers to pay instead of Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin also mentioned the Poseidon vehicle in his latest speech, where he claimed Russia will achieve goals in Ukraine either through diplomacy or by military means.

In addition, European security services have linked Russia to a series of mysterious drone incursions that led to airport closures across Europe.

Belgium has been a particular target: in just the first 10 days of November, more than a dozen incidents were recorded at airports, military bases, and nuclear power plants. Russia denies any involvement.

Populism and Flemish secession

Bart De Wever is known as a populist politician and long-time leader of the New Flemish Alliance, a party that since 2004 has advocated for a confederal structure for Belgium and previously promoted ideas of Flemish secession.